Improvement in sewing-machines



2 Sheets-Sheet I.' W. S. GUINNESS.

Sewing Mahine.

Patented April 2O,v 1869.

.[72 Venier: I

M WM N4 PETERS, Phnwmnngnphnr. wamingmn, D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ws'. GU'INNESS.

Sewing Machine.

' Patented Aprilv 2o, 1369.

N. PETERS, Phuwulnagmplw. washington. E'4 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM STUART GUINNESS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND AUGUSTUS GARDINER SEAMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 89,040, dated April 20, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kn own that I, WILLIAM STUART GUIN- NEss, formerly of Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and vState of New York, in the United States of America, but now of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, and in which- Figure l represents a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of one side of amachinein which my improvements are embodied. Fig. 2 represents a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a similar view of the same, with a portion of the casing and mechanism removed to show the internal arrangement of the mechanism more clearly. Fig. 4t represents a view, in elevation, of the machine as seen from the front, with the table partly in section to show the shuttle and feed mechanism. Fig. 5 is a view, in elevation, ot' the machine as seen from the rear, with the casing removed. Fig. 6 represents a plan or top view,

partly in section, of the overhanging arm, vibrating lever, needle bar, and presser-foot. Figs. 7 and 8 represent the details of animproved shuttle-holder. Fig, 9 shows my improved corrugated or ribbed shuttle.

My invention relates to that class of sewingmachines in which cranks, levers, and connecting-rods are employed instead of gearing.

My improvement consists in a novel method, hereinafter described, of combining a vertically-reciprocating needle, a horizontally-vibratin g shuttle, anda vertically-vibrating tension-lever or take-up, all driven by one pitman from a common center.

My invention further consists in a novel method, hereinafter described, of combining the shuttle and the needle by means of links and bell-crank levers, so that they shall move simultaneously to tighten and loosen the threads on both sides of the cloth.

The next part of my invention relates to the feed-motion.

The improvement consists in a novel method of actuating the feed-bar by means of inclines on a reciprocating shuttle slide, by which means the driving-shaft may be turned either way indifferently' without detriment to the proper working of the machine.

My invention further consists in a novel method, hereinafter described, of combining with a reciprocating eye-pointed needle and a tension-s prin g a vibrating take-up, so arranged as to slacken the needle-thread while the point of the needle is below the surface of the cloth.

My invention further consists in a novel method of constructing a sewing machine shuttle with longitudinal ins, ribs, or corrugations, to diminish the friction of the thread on the shuttle.

In order to carry out the objects of my invention, I give motion to the slide which carries the needle by means' of a lever, as heretofore, and I give a reciprocating or to-and-fro motion to this lever by a connecting rod or link extending from a crank on the drivingshaft of the machine.

The pin which connects the link or rod with the lever carries another link, which is pinjointed to one arm of a'bell-crank lever, the

other arm of which is, by a link, connected to a shuttle slide or carrier. The pin also, by another link, is connected to a bell-crank, which is formed with an eye, through which the needle-thread is led, so that by turning this crank on its center there shall be a large amount of slack thread at the time the shuttle is passing through the loop of the needle-thread.

In order to give the forward-feed-motion to the fabric or work, I employ a serrated plate, which acts against the under side of the work, as is very commonly the case, and I give the requisite horizontal and vertical motions to this plate by inclines on the shuttle slide or carrier.

By the arrangement above described,it will be seen that the machine will work equally well whichever way the drivin gshaft may be turned, as thc crank on the said drivin g-shaft acts only by its connecting-rod to give a reciprocatin g to-andfro motion to the lever which operates the needle-slide, and all the other parts of the machine derive their motion from the pin which connects this rod with the lever.

By giving motion from one pin to the shuttlc-slide and to a lever which alternately slackens and tightens the needle-thread, the

simultaneous tightening and loosening of the shuttle-thread and needle-thread is insured.

In order, also, that the lever which is to slacken and tighten the needle-thread shall not tighten the thread as the needle commences to rise, the pin which connects the link to the bell-crank is arranged to be then at its greatest distance, or nearly so, from a line drawn through the axis of the bell-crank and the pin from which motion is derived g but as the needle rises it is, by the turning of the bell-crank, brought toward this line, until at the end of the upward stroke of the needle it is nearly in a line therewith. The bellcrank will consequently, by this arrangement, be turned on its center at a constantly-increasing speed during the upward motion of the needle, while as the needle moves downward the reverse of this will be the case, so that the needle-thread will be entirely free, except from the slight friction of the thread-spring, while the needle-point is above the fabric.

The above-described arrangement for simultaneously giving motion to the thread-tightener and shuttle-slide may also be employed, tOgether with other arrangements of mechanism than those above mentioned, for giving motion to the needle.

rlhe manner in which Ii give motion to the serrated feed-plate from the shuttle slide or carrier is as follows: The serrated plate is carried by a bar which, as is usual, is capable of rising and falling, and also of moving to and fro horizontally in suitable guides. This bar is pressed downward by a slight spring on an inclined surface onto the slide to which the shuttle-holder is fixed, and as this slide is moved to and fro the incline surface regulates the rising and falling of the serrated plate.

The horizontal to-and-'fro motion is given to the plate by two other inclines carried by the slide, which, as the rslide moves to and fro, act alternately against opposite sides of a descendin g arm on the bar carrying the serrated plate, so as to move the serrated plate rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The incline which moves the plate in the direction to move the work forward is made adjustable, so that it may be set to move the work a greater or less amount with each stitch. rlhe part which forms this incline is for this purpose made capable of turning on a pin or hinge at one end, and at its opposite end is acted on by a screw, by turning which this end of 'the plate can be moved toward or from the descending arm.

The accompanying drawings show all my improvements embodied in one machine; but it is obvious that some of them may be used separately, or adapted to other machines with good effect. In this instance the mechanism is shown as supported by and incased in a frame consisting of a trough-shaped base, A1, inclosin g the feeding apparatus and the shuttle, and a hollow pillar, A2, containing the 'drivin g mechanism. The fra-me th us constructed can readily be attached to a table in the ordinary way, or adapted to stitching tubular work by bolting it to a table by a set-screw entering a slot, a, in a flange, s, projecting from one side of the frame. Wfhen thus secured the frame projects beyond the table, so as to leave an unobstructed space around it. An overhauging arm, B', projects over the frame and supports the needle-driving apparatus and presser-foot. The driving-wheel d is actuated by a crank or a driving-belt in the usual way.

A pitman, c. driven by a crank-pin, cl, on the driving-pulley, is pin-jointed at c to one end of the needle-arm b, which oscillates on a fulorum, b', on the overhanging arm B.

rIhe needle is carried by a needle-bar, a, sliding vertically in guides in the overhanging arm, and is connected with the lever b by a link, a'. The presser-foot r likewise moves vertically in guides in the overhanging arm, being held up by an eccentric lever, r2, and forced down by a spring, r1, when released from the eccentric, as is well understood.

A thread-carrier or tension-lever, k1 k2, in the form of a bell-crank, vibrates on a fulcrum, 7st, in the pillar A2, and is actuated by a link, Z, pin-jointed on the fulcrum c', which I call the king-pin.7

The needle-thread passes from the spool between proper tension-disks, and through an eye in the tension-lever, and through another eye in a bracket, o, on the outside of the overhanging arm. A bent wire, n, passes through a slot iu the overhanging arm into this bracket, and forms a spring, under which the thread passes. rlhe thread is then conducted through an eye on the arm, in line with the needle-bar, to

the needle itself. The result of this arrangement is that asthe needle descends the lever moves forward, and thus slackens the needlethread, so as to allow a large loop to be formed for the shuttle to pass through. Another link, f, pin-jointed on the fulcrum c', vibrates a bellcrank, A, fulcrumed at g on the frame, and connected by a pitman, h, with a shuttle-slide, i, reciprocating in suitable ways in the frame.

It will be observed that by this arrangement of devices all the moving parts of the mechanism are actuated from a common center and move in parallel vertical planes, and that I dispense with cog-wheels or gearing altogether.

Instead of allowing the shuttle to slide'on the raceway, as usual, I mount a holder, Figs. 7 and 8, on the slide z', so that it overhangs the ordinary raceway and secures the shuttle in this holder. By this means the face only of the shuttle rubs against the raeeway, and much friction is avoided. A triangular slot is formed in the raceway, with its straight side nearly in line with the needle. The slack part of the needle-thread on the open side of the shuttle passes into this slot, and allows the shuttle to pass through its loop.

The above-described devices are shown in my former patent of March 15, 1864.

The stitching-plate is provided with a slot lfor the passage of the feed-bar p, which bar moves in -suitable guides pl beneath the stitching or throat plate. A spring, p3, depresses the feed-bar, so as to Withdraw it from the cloth at the proper moment. A tail-piece or arm, depending from the feed-bar, is acted upon by an incline, ql, on the shuttle-slide as the shuttle approaches thedriving-pulley, andis thus fed forward, at the same time being` raised into contact with the cloth by the incline q on the shuttle-holder. On the reverse movement ofthe shuttle the spring depresses the feedbar as soon as the incline has passed from under it. The incline q2 then acts upon the tail-piece, to force the feed-bar in the opposite direction. The incline is made adjustable on a vertical fulcrum, and controlled by a setscrew, to regulate the length of stitch. A spring keeps the incline pressed against the set-screw.

The driving-shaft may run either Way indifferently, as the operation is the same. No matter which way it turns, all the Working parts are obliged to move simultaneously in the proper relation to each other, and the feed .can only act when the shuttle-slide is in its proper position.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a sewing-machine, of a vertically-reciprocating needle, a horizontallyvibrating shuttle, and a Vibrating take-up, all constructed substantially as described, and driven by a pitman from a common center, c', as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the driving-shaft, of the ptman o, driving the needle-bar, the link-rod f, the bell-crank lever A, the pitman h, and the shuttle-slide, all arranged and operating as set forth.

3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the feed-bar, supported by the throatplate, with the inclines on the shuttle-holder, for the purposes specified. l

4. The combination of the take-up and tension-spring with the links f h, the bell-crank lever A, and the shuttle-carrier, the combination being and operating substantially as set forth.

5. A reciprocating shuttle the shell of which is provided with longitudinal ribs to prevent the thread from coming in contact with the body of the shuttle.

lV. S. GUINNESS. [L.

Vitnesses A. PYATT, WM. Roer. LAKE. 

